You probably know that the Marine Corps’ motto is Semper Fidelis, or Semper Fi for short. It means “always faithful” in Latin, and it signifies a Marine’s loyalty both to the Corps and to the United States. What you may not know is that Semper Fiwasn’t the Corps’ motto until 1883. During its first century of existence, the Corps had a few unofficial mottos. These included “to the shores of Tripoli,” which commemorates the Marines’ service in the First Barbary War, Fortitudine (meaning “with courage”), and Per Mare, Per Terram (“by sea and by land”), which the Marines borrowed from the British Royal Marines.

The Marine Corps has distinguished itself at some of the most famous battles in U.S. military history: Belleau Wood, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Inchon, Chosin Reservoir, and Khe Sanh, among others. Nearly three hundred Marines have been awarded the Medal of Honor for their individual valor. Two Marines, Daniel Daly and Smedley Butler, have been awarded the medal twice. The Marine who received the Medal of Honor most recently was Lance Corporal Kyle Carpenter. In 2014 he shielded a fellow Marine by throwing himself in front of a grenade during an attack on a Marine patrol base in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Though grievously wounded, Lance Corporal Carpenter survived.

The Marine Corps is the smallest of the four U.S. armed services in the Department of Defense, with roughly 184,000 active-duty personnel, deployed in the Pacific, South America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. To put that in perspective, the U.S. Army is about two and a half times larger with roughly 475,000 troops. But compared to most of the world’s militaries the Marine Corps is a giant. Countries that have armies smaller than the U.S. Marine Corps include France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Japan.

Sinek, Simon. Leaders Eat Last(2014). In researching his book, Sinek asked Lt. Gen. George Flynn why the Marine Corps is the best. He replied that it is because our officers eat last. Sinek visited Quantico and observed the most junior Marines eating first and the most senior Marines taking their place at the back of the line. What he found symbolic in the chow hall defines Marine Corps culture. The price of leadership in the Corps is self-interest.

Ricks, Thomas. Making the Corps(1998). Ricks visited boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, to learn how old values are stripped away and new Marine Corps values are instilled. The author follows sixty-three recruits from their hometowns to Parris Island, through boot camp, and into their first year as Marines. As three drill instructors forge and sharpen a group of young men, a larger picture of the growing gulf that divides the military from the rest of America emerges.